HUMAN SERVICES RESTRUCTURING TASK FORCE

Program Duplication and Resource Utilization Subcommittee
MINUTES

September 10, 1997 - First Meeting

MEMBERS PRESENT

MEETING IN BRIEF

Minutes prepared and organization staffing by Patty Funaro, Sr. Legal Counsel

  1. Summary - Procedural Business.
  2. Work Plan.
  3. Evaluation of Programs and Services.
  4. Agency Directors Review.
  5. Future Meetings and Issues.

SUBCOMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Summary - Procedural Business.
The first meeting of the Program Duplication and Resource Utilization Subcommittee of the Human Services Restructuring Task Force was held on September 10, 1997, at Woodward State Hospital-School, following adjournment of the full Task Force meeting. The meeting convened at 3 p.m. and adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
2. Work Plan.
Co-chairperson Senator Maggie Tinsman discussed the work plan, purpose, and goals for the Subcommittee. She noted that in order to focus the work of the Subcommittee, the vast area of human services programs would be divided to initially review those programs and services for children ages 0-5 and their families. The goals in reviewing these programs are to improve interagency coordination of programs and reduce duplication; to improve service delivery by moving the point of delivery nearer the consumer and to provide services in a more user-friendly way; and to develop an ongoing process for appropriations subcommittees to coordinate programs and services which overlap departmental lines. The ultimate outcome hoped for in reaching these goals for the specified population is to provide the services and programs necessary to prepare children to be ready to learn as they enter school. Co-chairperson Tinsman explained that information being collected relating to programs and services will include all of those provided to children through age 18 to facilitate future expansion of the scope of the review of the Subcommittee.
3. Evaluation of Programs and Services.
Ms. Margaret Buckton, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, discussed means by which programs and services may be reviewed to determine if they are duplicative in nature. She reviewed how to identify duplication; types of duplication such as those based on age, characteristics, location, or administration; reasons for duplication including funding sources, the limited number of consumers, the point of service delivery, lack of information, and unintended results; the impact of duplication including providing excessive services of the same type and denying others services due to program requirements which are narrow; ways of addressing duplication such as decategorization and block grants; and concerns to consider when trying to reduce duplication. Members discussed the presentation noting that any evaluation of progress should include a measure of success based upon outcomes and results. Members also noted that if duplication is reduced it should not be at the expense of reduction in choice to the consumer.
4. Agency Director's Review.
Mr. Charles Palmer, Director, Department of Human Services, presented information regarding the collaboration of the Directors of the Departments of Human Services, Public Health, and Education in providing necessary services, while reducing duplication. He stated that the directors meet frequently to plan programs, services and budgets, and to discuss related issues. He noted that current issues have included the recent federal funding opportunity to provide health care to uninsured children in Iowa. He stated that the directors are committed to working in a collaborative manner. He said that many programs are driven by a specific constituency and may seem duplicative, but were began as pilot programs to serve a small percentage of the population. If these programs are eliminated, the specific, limited population may not otherwise be served. Senator Maddox noted that the Judicial Department should be included in this collaborative effort, even though the agency directors represent the Executive Branch.
5. Future Meetings and Issues.
The Subcommittee discussed the need to evaluate programs and for programs to be held accountable. They also asked to review funding sources for the various programs being reviewed. The members asked that future meetings include a review of the child health insurance opportunity and the issue of preschool for all children. The second Subcommittee meeting was tentatively scheduled for October 21, 1997, with the agenda to include review of programs by the Directors of DHS, IDPH, and Education.
Note: The second meeting of the Subcommittee that was originally scheduled for October 21, 1997, was rescheduled for November 4, 1997.

OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:

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